One of the more bizarre images of Manchester United’s season was the sight of Erik ten Hag dancing with Antony at Wembley.
Not one for being overly affectionate with his players, you must be doing something right if you get to tango with Ten Hag. But the United manager has got a soft spot for Antony, and has done since the Brazilian joined him at Ajax in the summer of 2020.
Ten Hag considers Antony a potential game-changer, which is why he was always going to encourage United to fork out such an eye-watering fee for the winger. That fee, north of £80million, has occasionally seemed like a ball and chain in a season when Antony’s high spots have been few and far between.
In so many ways, his performance in this workmanlike win over Wolves - sealed with a nice late effort from substitute Alejandro Garnacho - typified his first campaign in a United jersey.
He produced a neat assist for Anthony Martial’s opening goal but, as a rule, if there was a wrong option to take, he would take it. The calm pass to Martial for the first half breakthrough was actually the exception rather than the norm.
Early in proceedings, Antony decided against giving Martial tap-in practice but, instead, coaxed a shot wide. And after missing a headed sitter, Antony again ignored a team-mate in prime position, Jadon Sancho the one left beating his thighs in frustration.
One passage of play just before the break perfectly encapsulated Antony’s contribution, as he produced an astounding burst of pace to take him half the length of the field before deciding against playing the blindingly obvious pass, again to Sancho.
The theme continued in the second half, Christian Eriksen joining the unhappy band of frustrated colleagues. And there was, of course, the normal quota of his trademark move, the cut inside and the attempted left-footed curler.
So, apart from being overwhelmingly one-footed (although the assist was with his right), apart from being not too great in the air, apart from regularly choosing the wrong option, what do you get for your £80million-plus?
An exciting 23-year-old who is probably going to take longer than expected to settle into life at an elite club, that’s what.
Aside from his role in the opening goal, this was, largely, a frustrating afternoon for Antony, typified by a second half effort that kissed a post. Yet there was enough - and there has been enough over the course of the season - for United fans to keep the faith, or to have the faith that Ten Hag clearly has in Antony.
He is not going to be a guaranteed success story but there is a spark that could light a decent fire. And to be fair to Antony, this was an overall United performance that was never ablaze with brilliance.
With a touch more enthusiasm and commitment, Wolves would surely have got something from a match that was, essentially, an extended afternoon nap.
But it is impossible to understate the importance of the victory for United.
A little bit has been made of Ten Hag’s record of nine Premier League losses but that figure is largely irrelevant when you consider he has won the Carabao Cup - which prompted the moves with Antony - and has taken United to an FA Cup final and to the verge of Champions League qualification.
As long as they do not slip up over the last three fixtures, this will be a very acceptable first campaign for Ten Hag.
Quite clearly, he will need high-quality additions to his squad in the summer, probably in more than one department, although a blue-chip striker is clearly the priority. But there are players in Ten Hag’s pool of talent that will improve, that will become more accustomed to the demands of the club and the Premier League.
And Antony is one of them.
